LIVE OAK — A woman was killed after a fast-moving fire in Live Oak, despite her husband's frantic efforts to save her.
The fire broke out around 10:00 p.m. Monday on Mountain Shadows Street. Police say 49-year-old Rochelle Nichols died in the home.
Family members say Nichols' husband was sleeping inside the home when it started. His wife reportedly woke him up, banging on the bathroom door. He tried to save her but the flames were too intense.
The man went to neighbors for help, but they were not able to get to her, according to the family members. Fire crews arrived and got her out of the house, and tried to resuscitate her but she did not make it.
Neighbor Steve Valdez says he came out to flames after the fire started burning.
“He came out screaming, the house was involved and he tried to run back in, they stopped him from running back in. By that point, the fire department had arrived,” Valdez said.
Firefighters said departments from surrounding towns fought the fire, stopping it from spreading to nearby homes. When they arrived, they tried to rescue her.
“Firefighters were trying to get her out, they were kicking the door, and the only way to get her out was through the bedroom window,” Valdez said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one else was injured.